Irradiation control device and irradiation method

ABSTRACT

An irradiation control device is a device configured to control irradiation of light indicating a predetermined intention to a surrounding person, and includes an irradiation control unit configured to perform control to irradiate a first irradiation element, and a second irradiation element, which is irradiated when the first irradiation element is extinguished, and indicates an intention of the irradiation. As a result, light can be irradiated such that the attention of a target person is easily attracted and a delay in understanding by the target person is easily avoided.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an irradiation control device and anirradiation method, which are capable of, by performing a dynamicdisplay on a floor surface or a road surface as a display target,issuing an alert or conveying a guidance direction to a user who seesthe dynamic display.

BACKGROUND ART

As a related art, there is an alert irradiation control device capableof issuing an alert to a driver and to a person (e.g., see PatentLiterature 1). In Patent Literature 1, a level of danger is determinedbetween a vehicle body and a person around the vehicle body, and whenthere is danger, light is irradiated onto the road surface in accordancewith the level of danger. More specifically, in Patent Literature 1,light for displaying a direction of a person, who is estimated to be indanger based on an own vehicle, and a distance from the own vehicle tothe person is irradiated onto the road surface.

As another related art, there is an evacuation guidance system enabling,in the event of an emergency, for example, a fire, an evacuation actionto be performed quickly and safely by displaying an optimal evacuationdirection in accordance with the emergency situation (e.g., see PatentLiterature 2).

More specifically, in Patent Literature 2, a plurality of evacuationguidance display devices capable of variably displaying an evacuationdirection are arranged on a path to an evacuation site, and theplurality of evacuation guidance display devices are controlled by aguidance lamp control panel. In a normal monitoring state, the guidancelamp control panel permanently displays a predetermined evacuationdirection on the guidance display devices. Meanwhile, when an emergency,for example, a fire occurs, the guidance lamp control panel determinesthe optimum evacuation path based on the occurrence situation of theemergency, and displays an evacuation direction based on the optimumevacuation path on the guidance display devices.

As the specific display content, in Patent Literature 2, there aredescribed displaying an arrow graphic as the evacuation direction,blinking or flickering the displayed graphic, and displaying a movingimage. In Patent Literature 2, it is also described that a part of thearrow graphic is repeatedly displayed while the part of the arrowgraphic is being moved in the evacuation direction.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

[PTL 1] JP 2008-143510 A

[PTL 2] JP 2013-242687 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, the related arts have the following problems.

In Patent Literature 1, when an alert is issued from the vehicle, avisible-light animation carried out by, for example, blinking, lightingin turn, or sliding is displayed. Therefore, in Patent Literature 1, themeaning of the alert is easily conveyed, and its visibility is alsoimproved. As used herein, the term “animation” refers to a dynamicdisplay having a display mode that changes over time, such as a displaycarried out by, for example, blinking, lighting in turn, or sliding, incontrast to a static display in which the same graphic or the like isdisplayed (irradiated) at the same position without change.

Meanwhile, a driver of a bicycle or a two-wheeled vehicle, who receivesthe display of the alert, is required to understand the display contentof the visible-light animation as soon as possible to take an avoidanceaction, for example, a brake operation. However, when the visible-lightanimation has a non-display time, this may delay the understanding ofthe content by the driver. In Patent Literature 1, there is noconsideration given to countermeasures relating to such a delay incontent understanding.

In Patent Literature 2, there is employed an animation in which thedisplay blinks, lights in turn, or slides when guidance is conveyed in abuilding. Therefore, in Patent Literature 2, the guidance direction iseasily conveyed, and the visibility is also improved.

Meanwhile, a pedestrian, who receives a guidance display, is walking andmoving while looking for guidance. Therefore, when the visible-lightanimation has a non-display time even for a moment, the guidance may beoverlooked.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems describedabove, and it is an object of the present invention to provide anirradiation control device and an irradiation method, which irradiatelight such that the attention of a target person is easily attracted anda delay in understanding by the target person is easily avoided.

Solution to Problem

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is providedan irradiation control device, which is configured to controlirradiation of light indicating a predetermined intention to asurrounding person, the irradiation control device including anirradiation control unit configured to perform control to irradiate afirst irradiation element, and a second irradiation element, which isirradiated when the first irradiation element is extinguished, andindicates an intention of the irradiation.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided an irradiation method for irradiating light indicating apredetermined intention to a surrounding person, the irradiation controlmethod including: irradiating a first irradiation element; andirradiating a second irradiation element, which is irradiated when thefirst irradiation element is extinguished, and indicates an intention ofthe irradiation.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible toobtain the irradiation control device and the irradiation method, whichirradiate light such that the attention of a target person is easilyattracted and a delay in understanding by the target person is easilyavoided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for illustrating a configuration diagram ofhardware in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for illustrating a functional configuration ofa lighting control device in the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3A is a diagram for illustrating an example of a firstvisible-light animation associated with door opening of pushing out adoor in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a diagram for illustrating an example of a secondvisible-light animation associated with door opening of pushing out adoor in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3C is a diagram for illustrating an example of a visible-lightanimation associated with opening of a sliding type door in the firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a diagram for illustrating an example of a firstvisible-light animation associated with reversing of a vehicle in thefirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a diagram for illustrating an example of a secondvisible-light animation associated with reversing of the vehicle in thefirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4C is a diagram for illustrating an example of a thirdvisible-light animation associated with reversing of the vehicle in thefirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a diagram for illustrating an example of a firstvisible-light animation associated with starting of the vehicle in thefirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a diagram for illustrating an example of a secondvisible-light animation associated with forward movement of the vehiclein the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for illustrating an example of a visible-lightanimation associated with a right turn of the vehicle in the firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for illustrating an example of a visible-lightanimation used together with a warning icon associated with door openingof pushing out a door in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for illustrating a series of operations by thelighting control device in the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram for illustrating a configuration diagram ofhardware in a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram for illustrating a functional configurationof a lighting control device in the second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for illustrating an example of a firstvisible-light animation combining a display of a destination facilityand a graphic indicating a direction in the second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for illustrating an example of a secondvisible-light animation combining a display of a destination facilityand a graphic indicating a direction in the second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for illustrating an example of a thirdvisible-light animation combining a display of a destination facilityand a graphic indicating a direction in the second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for illustrating a series of operations by thelighting control device in the second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for illustrating an example of a firstvisible-light animation combining a display of a destination facilityand a sliding graphic indicating a direction in a third embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for illustrating an example of a secondvisible-light animation combining a display of a destination facilityand a sliding graphic indicating a direction in the third embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for illustrating an example of a thirdvisible-light animation combining a display of a destination facilityand a sliding graphic indicating a direction in the third embodiment ofthe present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Now, an irradiation control device and an irradiation method accordingto exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described withreference to the drawings.

In the following, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention aredivided into first to third embodiments for detailed description. Inthose embodiments, in order to improve visibility and ease ofunderstanding by a person who receives information, a visible-lightanimation, which is a graphic of animated light, is displayed orprojected in such a manner as to enable implementation of a state inwhich a display element indicating an intention of conveyance contentcan be visually recognized constantly by the eyes of a user.

In the following description, the “constant display” means a display inwhich a display element indicating the intention of the conveyancecontent is visually recognized by the eyes of the user as beingdisplayed constantly. Therefore, it is possible that the actual lightsource blinks at a speed that cannot be seen by the human eye. Thedisplay elements are not always limited to be the same, and may beconfigured such that the user visually recognizes that at least onedisplay element is displayed among a plurality of display elementsindicating the intention of the conveyance content. Further, forexample, this concept includes, when there are two display elementsindicating the intention of the conveyance content, not only a case inwhich one of the two display elements is irradiated at a timing at whichthe other of the two display elements is extinguished, but also a casein which both display elements are simultaneously irradiated and thenone of the display elements is irradiated so as to implement a constantdisplay.

First Embodiment

In a first embodiment of the present invention, there is described as anexample a case in which a visible-light animation is projected ordisplayed from an automobile onto a road surface or a vehicle body tourge surrounding people to take care.

First, a hardware configuration is described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for illustrating a configuration diagram ofhardware in the first embodiment of the present invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, an automobile in the first embodiment has asensor group 20 including various sensors, cameras, and the like. Anoverall control electronic control unit (ECU) 10 can control thehardware by transmitting various instructions to other hardware based oninformation obtained from the various sensors in the sensor group 20.

The overall control ECU 10 transmits predetermined information receivedfrom other hardware to an integrated discrimination ECU included in alighting control device 40 via a controller area network (CAN). Thelighting control device 40 controls light devices 50 for the outside ofthe vehicle, such as an external light device A, an external lightdevice B, a projector device, and a body light device, based on theinformation received from the overall control ECU 10.

In FIG. 1, the various sensors include a vehicle speed sensor, asteering angle sensor, an accelerator sensor, a brake sensor, agearshift sensor, a turn signal sensor, a hazard sensor, a wiper sensor,a light sensor, a door opening and closing sensor, a driver camera, aseating sensor, an acceleration sensor, an angular velocity sensor, aGPS device, a navigation system, external vehicle cameras, an externalvehicle sensor, and an illuminance sensor.

The overall control ECU 10 receives information detected by each sensorand images photographed by the cameras.

The various sensors included in the sensor group 20 are now described.

The vehicle speed sensor detects a speed of the vehicle body. Thevehicle speed sensor outputs an electric signal (corresponding to avehicle speed pulse) corresponding to the wheel speed to the overallcontrol ECU 10.

The steering angle sensor detects a steering angle of the vehicle body.The steering angle sensor outputs an electric signal corresponding tothe steering angle to the overall control ECU 10.

The accelerator sensor detects an accelerator opening degree, that is,an operation amount of an accelerator pedal. The accelerator sensoroutputs information on the operation amount of the accelerator pedal tothe overall control ECU 10.

The brake sensor detects an operation amount of the brake pedal. Thebrake sensor outputs operation amount information on the brake pedal tothe overall control ECU 10.

The gearshift sensor detects a current state or a change of a gearshiftlever. The gearshift sensor outputs information on the operation of thegearshift lever caused by a gearshift change or the like by the user tothe overall control ECU 10.

The turn signal sensor detects operation of a turn signal (directionindicator). When the user operates the turn signal, the turn signalsensor outputs information on the turn signal operation instruction tothe overall control ECU 10.

The hazard sensor detects operation of a hazard switch. The hazardsensor detects operation of the hazard switch by the user, and outputsinformation on the detected operation to the overall control ECU 10.

The wiper sensor detects operation of wipers. When the user operates thewipers, the wiper sensor outputs information on the operationinstruction to the overall control ECU 10.

The light sensor detects operation of a light lever by the user. Thelight sensor outputs information on the light operation by the user tothe overall control ECU 10.

The door opening and closing sensor detects opening and closing of adoor of the vehicle. The door opening and closing sensor outputsinformation on the door opening and closing to the overall control ECU10.

The driver camera is a camera (image pickup device) arranged so as toface a driver's seat of the vehicle. The driver camera has a function ofphotographing a user who sits in the driver's seat. The driver cameraphotographs the face and upper body of the user, and outputs thephotographed image to the overall control ECU 10.

The seating sensor is arranged on the seat, and detects a seatingsituation of the user. The seating sensor is implemented by, forexample, a pressure sensor. The seating sensor outputs to the overallcontrol ECU 10 information indicating that the user is seated or hasleft the seat. A plurality of seating sensors may be arranged on theseat. The overall control ECU 10 can also estimate a posture and thelike of the user based on information from a plurality of pressuresensors.

The acceleration sensor detects an acceleration of the vehicle. Theacceleration sensor is configured from, for example, a triaxialacceleration sensor. The acceleration sensor outputs information on theacceleration of the vehicle to the overall control ECU 10.

The angular velocity sensor detects an angular velocity (gyro). Theangular velocity sensor outputs the information on the detected angularvelocity to the overall control ECU 10. The overall control ECU 10 candetect a turning speed and the like of the vehicle based on the angularvelocity information.

The GPS device is a device configured to use the global positioningsystem (GPS) to detect a position of an own vehicle by using radio wavestransmitted by satellites. The GPS device outputs the coordinates of theposition of the own vehicle to the overall control ECU 10 and thenavigation system.

The navigation system has map information. The navigation system has afunction of calculating a recommended path to a destination of thevehicle based on the own-vehicle position and the map information. Thenavigation system also has a communication function. Externalinformation such as congestion information and road closure informationmay be acquired from a server, and the recommended path may becalculated based on the external information.

The navigation system may also have a function of transmitting to theserver the position information on the vehicle, the destinationinformation, and other such information. In this case, the navigationsystem may be configured such that the recommended path is calculated onthe server side, and the information on the recommended path is receivedby the navigation system. The navigation system outputs the informationon the calculated path to the overall control ECU 10.

The external vehicle cameras are cameras (image pickup devices) arrangedin order to photograph the outside of the vehicle. The external vehiclecamera is arranged, for example, at each of the front, rear, left, andright of the vehicle. Each photographed image is output to the overallcontrol ECU 10. The overall control ECU 10 can detect and recognizepeople, and detect and recognize objects (objects) such as vehicles andobstacles, based on those photographed images.

The external vehicle sensor is a sensor capable of detecting objectsaround the outside of the vehicle. The external vehicle sensor includes,for example, an ultrasonic sensor, a radar sensor, a millimeter waveradar sensor, or an infrared laser sensor. The external vehicle sensoroutputs the detection information to the overall control ECU 10. Theoverall control ECU 10 can detect, based on the detection information onan object outside the vehicle input from the external vehicle sensor, adistance between the object and the vehicle and the position of theobject.

The detected distance and position of the object may be detected by theoverall control ECU 10 like in the first embodiment, or the externalvehicle sensor may calculate the distance and position of the objectbased on the information detected by the external vehicle sensor itself,and output the calculated information to the overall control ECU 10.

The illuminance sensor is arranged so as to face outside from thevehicle. The illuminance sensor detects illuminance (brightness) outsidethe vehicle. The illuminance sensor outputs information on the detectedilluminance to the overall control ECU 10.

Next, the overall control ECU 10 is described.

The overall control ECU 10 is an ECU having a function of controllingthe entire vehicle. The overall control ECU 10 acquires the detectioninformation from the various sensors, and based on the acquiredinformation, executes control of the entire vehicle by transmittinginstructions and information to appropriately operate each unit of thevehicle.

The overall control ECU 10 includes a processor, a read-only memory(ROM), and a random-access memory (RAM). The processor is an arithmeticprocessing circuit configured to execute various types of arithmeticprocessing in the overall control ECU 10. The processor is hardware thatcan also be referred to by various designations in addition to theprocessor, such as an arithmetic processing circuit, an electriccircuit, and a controller.

The processor is built from one or a collection of two or morearithmetic processing circuits. The processor can execute arithmeticprocessing by reading a program from the ROM and loading the readprogram onto the RAM.

The ROM is a nonvolatile storage device storing one or more programs.The RAM is a volatile storage device to be used as an area onto whichprograms and various types of information are to be loaded by theprocessor. The ROM and the RAM are built from, for example, asemiconductor storage device, and can also be referred to as “memory”.

In the first embodiment, there is described an example in which the ROMis a storage device storing a program to be executed by the processor,but the storage device is not limited to this, and may be, for example,a nonvolatile mass storage device referred to as “storage”, such as ahard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD).

The storage devices including a storage may be collectively referred toas “memory”. The configuration of such a memory is the same for theintegrated discrimination ECU and the light control ECU, which aredescribed later.

Next, each constituent component of a vehicle control target 30 in FIG.1 is described.

A headlight driver is a driving device configured to drive headlights.The headlight driver drives, based on an instruction from the overallcontrol ECU 10 or the light control ECU, the head lights and causes theheadlights to perform operations such as turning on/off and switchingbetween high beam and low beam.

The headlights are arranged on the front side of the vehicle body. Theheadlights are irradiation devices configured to irradiate the lighttoward the front of the vehicle body. The headlight is arranged at eachof the left and the right front sides of the vehicle body. Theheadlights are capable of switching between a high beam for illuminatingfurther away and a low beam for illuminating closer than the high beamby switching the structure of a light guidance portion for guiding thelight irradiated from the lights, or by switching among a plurality oflights.

An engine is an internal combustion engine configured to generate motivepower to drive the vehicle. The engine generates motive power forrotating the wheels by burning fuel, for example, gasoline. The enginecan also operate based on an instruction from the overall control ECU10.

An engine transmission includes gears, shafts, and the like, and has afunction of transmitting motive power to the wheels. The enginetransmission can change a torque to be transmitted to the wheels bychanging the gears based on an instruction from the overall control ECU10.

A brake actuator is a mechanism for operating brakes (speed reducers) inorder to cause the vehicle to decelerate. The brake actuator can causethe vehicle to decelerate by operating the brakes based on aninstruction from the overall control ECU 10.

A steering actuator is a mechanism for operating a steering system(steering device) configured to control the travel direction of thevehicle by changing the direction of the wheels. The steering actuatorcan control the travel direction of the vehicle by controlling thesteering system based on an instruction from the overall control ECU 10.

A turn signal is a direction indicator for indicating to the outside ofthe vehicle the travel direction of the vehicle by light emission. Theturn signal blinks based on an instruction from the overall control ECU10 to indicate the travel direction of the vehicle to the outside of thevehicle.

A head-up display (HUD) is a transmissive image display apparatusarranged so as to be superimposed on a windshield of the automobile. TheHUD can display various images based on an instruction from the overallcontrol ECU 10. The HUD presents various types of information to theuser in the vehicle by displaying an image.

Next, each constituent component of the lighting control device 40 inFIG. 1 is described.

The lighting control device 40 is a control device having a function ofcontrolling the light devices of the vehicle. The lighting controldevice 40 includes an integrated discrimination ECU, a wirelesscommunication device, and a light control ECU.

The vehicle in the first embodiment has a function of conveying thestate of the vehicle, an operation intention, a warning, other suchinformation to the surroundings of the vehicle based on the irradiationof light of various light devices. The term “light devices” in this caserefers to the light devices 50, which is a collective term for theexternal light device A, the external light device B, the projectordevice, the body light device, and the headlights described later.

The integrated discrimination ECU is a device having a function ofdiscriminating the situation of the vehicle body based on various typesof information input from the overall control ECU 10, and determiningthe content to be conveyed to the surroundings by the light devices 50.Like the overall control ECU 10, the integrated discrimination ECUincludes a processor, a ROM, and a RAM.

The integrated discrimination ECU receives various types of informationfrom the overall control ECU 10 to determine the state of the vehicle,and transmits information for controlling the irradiation of each lightdevice to the light control ECU. The integrated discrimination ECU alsotransmits to the wireless communication device an instruction relatingto communication.

The wireless communication device is a communication device configuredto perform wireless communication to and from an external communicationdevice. The wireless communication device uses a specific frequency bandto perform vehicle-to-vehicle communication to and from another car,road-to-vehicle communication to and from a roadside device, andcommunication to and from a communicable electronic device carried by aperson, for example, a smartphone.

This communication may be unique communication using a specificallydetermined frequency band, or may be communication using a communicationstandard standardized to execute communication between an in-vehiclecommunication device and an external communication device. Thiscommunication may also be communication using existing communicationstandards such as wireless local area network (LAN), Bluetooth(trademark), and Zigbee (trademark).

The wireless communication device transmits wireless signals from atransmitting unit to another device via an antenna, and receiveswireless signals from another device from a receiving unit via theantenna.

The light control ECU is a control device configured to determine thelight to be irradiated by each light device and transmit an instructionto the light devices 50. The light control ECU includes a processor, aROM, and a RAM. The light control ECU determines an irradiation patternof each light device based on information input from the integrateddiscrimination ECU, and transmits an irradiation instruction to eachlight device based on the determined irradiation pattern.

In this case, the “irradiation pattern” refers to a pattern formed fromone display element or from a combination of two or more displayelements. The irradiation pattern has adjustable elements, such as anirradiation shape, position, size, color, timing, brightness, andduration, which enables the visibility of the pattern to be changed inaccordance with a peripheral environment under which the pattern is tobe displayed.

Next, each constituent component of the light devices 50 in FIG. 1 isdescribed.

The external light device A is an irradiation device mounted so as toface the outside from the vehicle body. The external light device A hasa function of irradiating light onto the road surface or a nearby wallsurface to convey, to a user who is outside the vehicle, informationsuch as an advance notice of an upcoming operation of the vehicle, anintention of a current or upcoming vehicle operation, and a warning. Theexternal light device A irradiates the light onto the road surface orthe like in an irradiation pattern suitable for conveying suchinformation to a user outside the vehicle.

The external light device A includes an external light driver and anexternal light set. The external light driver is a driving deviceconfigured to drive the external light set to cause the external lightset to irradiate predetermined light.

The external light driver A has a function of controlling a combinationof an irradiation timing, an irradiation time, and the like of eachexternal light in the external light set. The external light driver Acan also operate a color filter, a shade, a light guiding mechanism, andthe like arranged in the external lights to irradiate light having thepredetermined irradiation pattern onto a position relative to apredetermined vehicle body.

An external light set A includes a plurality of external lights(irradiation devices). A plurality of external lights are turned onbased on control by the external light driver.

The external light device B is an irradiation device mounted so as toface the outside from the vehicle body. The external light device B hasa function of irradiating light onto the road surface or a nearby wallsurface to convey, to a user who is outside the vehicle, informationsuch as an advance notice of an upcoming operation of the vehicle, anintention of a current or upcoming operation, and a warning. Theexternal light device B irradiates the light onto the road surface orthe like in an irradiation pattern suitable for conveying suchinformation to a user outside the vehicle.

The external light device B includes an external light driver and anexternal light set. The external light driver is a driving deviceconfigured to drive the external light set to cause the external lightset to irradiate predetermined light.

The external light driver B has a function of controlling a combinationof an irradiation timing, an irradiation time, and the like of eachexternal light in the external light set. The external light driver Bcan also operate a color filter, a shade, and a light guiding mechanismarranged in the external lights to irradiate light having thepredetermined irradiation pattern onto a position relative to apredetermined vehicle body.

An external light set B includes a plurality of external lights(irradiation devices). A plurality of external lights are turned onbased on control by the operation of the external light driver.

The projector device is an image projection device mounted so as to facethe outside from the vehicle body. The projector device has a functionof irradiating light onto the road surface or a nearby wall surface toconvey, to a user who is outside the vehicle, information such as anadvance notice of an upcoming operation of the vehicle, an intention ofa current or upcoming vehicle operation, and a warning. The projectordevice irradiates (projects) the light onto the road surface or the likein an irradiation pattern suitable for conveying such information to auser outside the vehicle.

The projector device includes a projector driver and a projector. Theprojector driver is a driving device configured to drive the projectorto cause the projector to irradiate predetermined light. The projectordriver has a function of controlling the irradiation pattern of thelight to be irradiated by the projector.

The projector is an irradiation (projection) device configured toirradiate (project) light (image) toward the outside of the vehicle. Theprojector irradiates light (image) onto the road surface or a wallsurface outside the vehicle based on the operation of the projectordriver.

The body light device is a light emitting device arranged on the vehiclebody. The body light device has a function of conveying, to a pedestrianoutside the vehicle or a driver of another vehicle, for example,information such as an advance notice of an upcoming operation of thevehicle, an intention of a current or upcoming operation, and a warning.The body light device emits light having a predetermined irradiationpattern on a predetermined position onto the surface of the vehiclebody.

The body light device includes a body light driver and a body light. Thebody light driver is a driving device configured to drive the body lightto cause the body light to irradiate light having a predeterminedirradiation pattern. The body light driver has a function of controllingthe irradiation pattern of the light to be irradiated by the body light.

The body light is a light emitting device arranged such that lightemitted from the outer surface of the vehicle body can be seen. The bodylight in the first embodiment is formed by a liquid crystal display(LCD) and light emitting diodes (LED).

The body light irradiates light emitted by the LEDs and transmittedthrough the LCD onto the outside of the vehicle as light having apredetermined pattern. In the first embodiment, there is described anexample in which the body light is formed by LEDs and an LCD, but thepresent invention is not limited to this example. The body light may beformed by another light emitting device that uses, for example, organicelectroluminescence (EL), and a display device.

Next, details of the specific control processing by the lighting controldevice 40 are described.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for illustrating a functional configuration ofthe lighting control device 40 in the first embodiment of the presentinvention. The lighting control device 40 in the first embodimentincludes an integrated discrimination ECU 41, a wireless communicationunit 42, and a light control ECU 43.

The integrated discrimination ECU 41 in the lighting control device 40includes a vehicle information acquisition unit 41 a, a vehicle statediscrimination unit 41 b, and an integrated discrimination unit 41 c.The light control ECU 43 in the lighting control device 40 includes alighting discrimination unit 43 a, a lighting database (lighting DB) 43b, and a lighting instruction unit 43 c.

The vehicle information acquisition unit 41 a has a function ofacquiring various types of information from the overall control ECU 10.Examples of the information to be acquired by the vehicle informationacquisition unit 41 a include information on switching between ON/OFF ofthe engine, information on a gear change by the gearshift lever,information on door opening and closing, information on vehicleoperation, information on a steering angle of a steering wheel,information on operation of the turn signal, detection information andrecognition information on objects such as surrounding people andvehicles, and information on users inside the vehicle. The vehicleinformation acquisition unit 41 a transmits the acquired information tothe vehicle state discrimination unit 41 b.

The vehicle state discrimination unit 41 b has a function ofdiscriminating the state of the vehicle based on the informationreceived from the vehicle information acquisition unit 41 a. Forexample, the vehicle state discrimination unit 41 b discriminates, basedon the gear change information, whether or not the vehicle isstationary, about to move forward, or about to reverse.

The vehicle state discrimination unit 41 b also discriminates, based onthe information on the steering angle of the steering wheel and theinformation on the operation of the turn signal, whether or not thevehicle is about to turn to the right or to the left. The vehicle statediscrimination unit 41 b also discriminates, based on the detectioninformation and recognition information on objects such as surroundingpeople and vehicles, whether the vehicle, surrounding people, anothervehicle, and the like are in danger.

The integrated discrimination unit 41 c has a function of discriminatinginformation to be conveyed to the outside of the vehicle based on thediscrimination result of the vehicle state discrimination unit 41 b. Forexample, when the vehicle is about to reverse, the integrateddiscrimination unit 41 c determines that a message indicating that thevehicle is to reverse is to be conveyed to the outside of the vehicle,and transmits to the lighting discrimination unit 43 a an instructionfor irradiation of that message.

When the gearshift lever is changed from parking to drive (or firstgear), the vehicle state discrimination unit 41 b determines that thevehicle is about to move forward from a stationary state, and transmitsthis information to the integrated discrimination unit 41 c. Theintegrated discrimination unit 41 c transmits, based on thisinformation, to the lighting discrimination unit 43 a an instruction toperform irradiation to the effect that the vehicle is about to moveforward from a stationary state.

The integrated discrimination unit 41 c also has a function ofcontrolling wireless communication based on the discrimination result ofthe vehicle state discrimination unit 41 b. The wireless communicationunit 42 executes wireless communication to and from an external devicein accordance with an instruction from the integrated discriminationunit 41 c.

When the lighting discrimination unit 43 a in the light control ECU 43receives the information to be conveyed to the outside of the vehiclefrom the integrated discrimination unit 41 c, the lightingdiscrimination unit 43 a refers to the lighting DB 43 b anddiscriminates a suitable lighting irradiation pattern for theinformation to be conveyed to the outside of the vehicle.

The lighting DB 43 b is a database containing information on variouskinds of lighting. For example, the lighting DB 43 b stores a lightingidentifier, a light device identifier (external light device A, externallight device B, projector device, body light device, headlights), anirradiation pattern of light that can be irradiated by a correspondinglight device, and the content to be conveyed to the surroundings by thatirradiation pattern.

The lighting instruction unit 43 c has a function of controlling eachlight device by transmitting an irradiation instruction to each lightdevice in accordance with an instruction from the lightingdiscrimination unit 43 a. For example, when an irradiation instructionfor a predetermined purpose has been issued from the integrateddiscrimination unit 41 c, the lighting discrimination unit 43 a refersto the lighting DB 43 b to discriminate a lighting identifier suitablefor the irradiation instruction for the predetermined purpose.

There may be one or a plurality of discriminating lighting identifiers.The lighting discrimination unit 43 a determines the identifier of thelighting to be irradiated, and then determines the irradiation timingand duration of the determined lighting. The lighting discriminationunit 43 a notifies the lighting instruction unit 43 c of the identifierand information on the irradiation timing and duration of the lighting.

The lighting instruction unit 43 c has a function of controlling theirradiation of light by each light device by referring to the lightingDB 43 b based on the information received from the lightingdiscrimination unit 43 a.

In the first embodiment, there is described an example in which theintegrated discrimination ECU 41 and the light control ECU 43 areseparate ECUs, but those units may be integrated.

Next, the visible-light animations to be projected and displayed fromthe automobile toward the road surface or the vehicle body are describedin detail with reference to the drawings. In the first embodiment, thereare described specific examples of visible-light animationscorresponding to the following three cases. In the followingdescription, the display control is described as being performed by thelighting control device 40, and a description of the control operationsperformed by each constituent component in the lighting control device40 illustrated in FIG. 2 is omitted.

[Case 1] Visible-light animation corresponding to door opening operation

[Case 2] Visible-light animation corresponding to reverse, start, rightturn, or left turn

[Case 3] Visible-light animation combining special icons

[Case 1] Visible-light animation corresponding to door opening operation

The aim of Case 1 is to perform a visible-light animation to issue, inresponse to the opening of a door of a stationary vehicle (before dooropening operation of vehicle), an advance notice or an alert relating toan area in which a person is to exit from the vehicle, an area or spacein which the door is to be opened, and the periphery thereof.

FIG. 3A is a diagram for illustrating an example of a firstvisible-light animation associated with door opening of pushing out adoor in the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3A, thereis illustrated a state in which a dynamic display is performed bysequentially switching between the following two types of displays ofP3A1 and P3A2.

P3A1: Display enabling opening of door to be visualized

P3A2: Display corresponding to an entire area in which the door moveswhen the door moves from a closed state to the state of P3A1

The display of P3A1 in FIG. 3A corresponds to a display elementindicating the intention of the conveyance content. The lighting controldevice 40 repeatedly blinks the displays of P3A1 and P3A2. At this time,the state of P3A1, which is a display element indicating the intentionof the conveyance content, is also included in the display of P3A2.Therefore, even when the displays of P3A1 and P3A2 are sequentiallyswitched, a person or a driver around the vehicle can constantlyvisually recognize P3A1, which is a display element indicating theintention of the conveyance content, at all times.

As a result, the lighting control device 40 can execute a visible-lightanimation display that enables a person or a driver around the vehicleto quickly understand the conveyance content without a risk of thedisplay of P3A1 being overlooked.

FIG. 3B is a diagram for illustrating an example of a secondvisible-light animation associated with door opening of pushing out adoor in the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3B, thereis illustrated a state in which a dynamic display is performed bysequentially switching between the following five types of displays ofP3B1 to P3B5.

P3B1: Display enabling opening of door to be visualized, and is samedisplay as P3A1 of FIG. 3A

P3B2 to P3B5: Displays obtained by dividing an area in which the doormoves into four stages when the door moves from a state in which thedoor is closed to the state of P3B1, and correspond to the display ofP3A2 of FIG. 3A divided into four stages

The display of P3B1 in FIG. 3B corresponds to a display elementindicating the intention of the conveyance content. The lighting controldevice 40 repeatedly blinks the displays of P3B1 to P3B5. At this time,the state of P3B1, which is a display element indicating the intentionof the conveyance content, is also included in the displays of P3B2 toP3B5. Therefore, even when the displays of P3B1 to P3B5 are sequentiallyswitched, a person or a driver around the vehicle can constantlyvisually recognize P3B1, which is a display element indicating theintention of the conveyance content, at all times.

As a result, the lighting control device 40 can execute a visible-lightanimation display that enables a person or a driver around the vehicleto quickly understand the conveyance content without a risk of thedisplay of P3B1 being overlooked.

FIG. 3C is a diagram for illustrating an example of a visible-lightanimation associated with opening of a sliding type door in the firstembodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3C, there is illustrated astate in which a dynamic display is performed by sequentially switchingbetween the following four types of displays of P3C1 to P3C4.

P3C1: Display enabling an area in which a person is to exit from thevehicle after the door has been slid open to be visualized

P3C2 to P3C4: Displays enabling an area in which a person who has exitedfrom the vehicle gradually moves from the vehicle side toward theoutside, and correspond to displays divided into three stages

The display of P3C1 in FIG. 3C corresponds to a display elementindicating the intention of the conveyance content. The lighting controldevice 40 repeatedly blinks the displays of P3C1 to P3C4. At this time,the state of P3C1, which is a display element indicating the intentionof the conveyance content, is also included in the displays of P3C2 toP3C4. Therefore, even when the displays of P3C1 to P3C4 are sequentiallyswitched, a person or a driver around the vehicle can constantlyvisually recognize P3C1, which is a display element indicating theintention of the conveyance content, at all times.

As a result, the lighting control device 40 can execute a visible-lightanimation display that enables a person or a driver around the vehicleto quickly understand the conveyance content without a risk of thedisplay of P3C1 being overlooked.

In FIG. 3C, there is illustrated a case in which the position closest tothe sliding type door of the vehicle can be constantly visuallyrecognized in P3C1 to P3C4, but the present invention is not limited tosuch a visible-light animation display. For example, the same effect canbe implemented by displaying a visible-light animation that enables thefarthest position from the sliding type door of the vehicle to beconstantly visually recognized.

[Case 2] Visible-light animation corresponding to reverse, start, rightturn, or left turn

The aim of Case 2 is to perform a visible-light animation to issue, whenthe vehicle is to move (before the vehicle starts moving), an advancenotice or an alert of the travel direction and distance of the movement.In this case, the “distance” means, for example, about 3 meters ahead ofthe vehicle, which corresponds to the distance traveled by a vehicle in1 second at a speed of 10 km/h, or about 4 m ahead of the vehicle, whichcorresponds to the length of one vehicle.

FIG. 4A is a diagram for illustrating an example of a firstvisible-light animation associated with reversing of the vehicle in thefirst embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4A, there isillustrated a state in which a dynamic display is performed bysequentially switching among the following three types of displays ofP4A1 to P4A3.

P4A1: Display enabling an area closest to a rear portion of the vehicleto be visualized, which displays that the vehicle is reversing closer bya chevron mark

P4A2 and P4A3: Displays enabling an area in which the vehicle graduallymoves over time to be visualized

The display of P4A1 in FIG. 4A corresponds to a display elementindicating the intention of the conveyance content. The lighting controldevice 40 repeatedly blinks the displays of P4A1 to P4A3. At this time,the state of P4A1, which is a display element indicating the intentionof the conveyance content, is also included in the displays of P4A2 andP4A3. Therefore, even when the displays of P4A1 to P4A3 are sequentiallyswitched, a person or a driver around the vehicle can constantlyvisually recognize P4A1, which is a display element indicating theintention of the conveyance content, at all times.

As a result, the lighting control device 40 can execute a visible-lightanimation display that enables a person or a driver around the vehicleto quickly understand the conveyance content without a risk of thedisplay of P4A1 being overlooked.

FIG. 4B is a diagram for illustrating an example of a secondvisible-light animation associated with reversing of the vehicle in thefirst embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4C is a diagram forillustrating an example of a third visible-light animation associatedwith reversing of the vehicle in the first embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C, there are illustrated variations,which are different from FIG. 4A, of the area to be constantly displayedand the state that is switched and displayed.

In FIG. 4A, the area closest to the rear portion of the vehicle isconstantly displayed. In contrast, in FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C, the maximumarea in which the vehicle can move when reversing is constantlydisplayed. Further, in FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C, a second display patternP4B2 in FIG. 4B and a second display pattern P4C2 in FIG. 4C aredifferent.

Therefore, in the cases of both FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C, a person or adriver around the vehicle can constantly visually recognize P4B1 orP4C1, which is a display element indicating the intention of theconveyance content, at all times. As a result, the lighting controldevice 40 can execute a visible-light animation display that enables aperson or a driver around the vehicle to quickly understand theconveyance content without a risk of the display of P4B1 or P4C1 beingoverlooked.

Next, FIG. 5A is a diagram for illustrating an example of a firstvisible-light animation associated with starting of the vehicle in thefirst embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5A, there isillustrated a state in which a dynamic display is performed bysequentially switching among the following five types of displays ofP5A1 to P5A5.

P5A1: Display enabling an immediate area in front of the vehicle to bevisualized, which displays that the vehicle is to move forward byinclining displayed line segments

P5A2 to P5A5: Displays enabling an area in which the vehicle graduallymoves over time to be visualized, which displays that the vehicle is tomove forward by displaying line segments that become longer as thedistance from the vehicle becomes larger

The display of P5A1 in FIG. 5A corresponds to a display elementindicating the intention of the conveyance content. The lighting controldevice 40 repeatedly blinks the displays of P5A1 to P5A5. At this time,the state of P5A1, which is a display element indicating the intentionof the conveyance content, is also included in the displays of P5A2 toP5A5. Therefore, even when the displays of P5A1 to P5A5 are sequentiallyswitched, a person or a driver around the vehicle can constantlyvisually recognize P5A1, which is a display element indicating theintention of the conveyance content, at all times.

As a result, the lighting control device 40 can execute a visible-lightanimation display that enables a person or a driver around the vehicleto quickly understand the conveyance content without a risk of thedisplay of P5A1 being overlooked.

FIG. 5B is a diagram for illustrating an example of a secondvisible-light animation associated with forward movement of the vehiclein the first embodiment of the present invention. A display of P5B1 inFIG. 5B corresponds to the display of P5A1 in FIG. 5A, and a display ofP5B2 in FIG. 5B corresponds to the display of P5A5 in FIG. 5A.Specifically, in FIG. 5A, a display switching among five stages isperformed, but in FIG. 5B, a display switching between two stages,namely, a closest area and a maximum area, is performed.

Also in the case of FIG. 5B, a person or a driver around the vehicle canconstantly visually recognize P5B1, which is a display elementindicating the intention of the conveyance content, at all times. As aresult, the lighting control device 40 can execute a visible-lightanimation display that enables a person or a driver around the vehicleto quickly understand the conveyance content without a risk of thedisplay of P5B1 being overlooked.

Next, FIG. 6 is a diagram for illustrating an example of a visible-lightanimation associated with right turning of the vehicle in the firstembodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, there is illustrated astate in which a dynamic display is performed by sequentially switchingamong the following two types of displays of P61 and P62.

P61: Display enabling a right immediate area in front of the vehicle tobe visualized, which displays that the vehicle is to move forward andturn right by inclining displayed line segments

P62: Displays enabling a maximum area in which the vehicle graduallymoves over time to be visualized, which displays that the vehicle is toturn right by displaying line segments that become longer as thedistance from the vehicle becomes larger

The display of P61 in FIG. 6 corresponds to a display element indicatingthe intention of the conveyance content. The lighting control device 40repeatedly blinks the displays of P61 and P62. At this time, the stateof P61, which is a display element indicating the intention of theconveyance content, is also included in the display of P62. Therefore,even when the displays of P61 and P62 are sequentially switched, aperson or a driver around the vehicle can constantly visually recognizeP61, which is a display element indicating the intention of theconveyance content, at all times.

As a result, the lighting control device 40 can execute a visible-lightanimation display that enables a person or a driver around the vehicleto quickly understand the conveyance content without a risk of thedisplay of P61 being overlooked.

[Case 3] Visible-light animation combining special icons

The aim of Case 3 is to issue an even stronger alert by displaying awarning icon using a special icon onto the road surface when the vehicleperforms some kind of movement.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for illustrating an example of a visible-lightanimation used together with a warning icon associated with door openingof pushing out a door in the first embodiment of the present invention.In FIG. 7, there is illustrated a state in which a dynamic display isperformed by sequentially switching among the following three types ofdisplays of P71 to P73.

P71: Display a warning icon enabling the fact that some kind of actionis to occur on the left side of the vehicle to be visualized

P72: Display enabling a state in which the door is open to bevisualized+display of a warning icon

P73: Display corresponding to an entire area in which the door moveswhen moving from a state in which the door is closed to the state ofP72+Display of warning icon

The display of the warning icon of P71 in FIG. 7 corresponds to adisplay element indicating the intention of the conveyance content. Thelighting control device 40 repeatedly blinks the displays of P71 to P73.At this time, the state of P71, which is a display element indicatingthe intention of the conveyance content, is also included in thedisplays of P72 and P73. Therefore, even when the displays of P71 to P73are sequentially switched, a person or a driver around the vehicle canconstantly visually recognize the display of the warning icon of P71,which is a display element indicating the intention of the conveyancecontent, at all times.

As a result, the lighting control device 40 can execute a visible-lightanimation display that enables a person or a driver around the vehicleto quickly understand the conveyance content without a risk of thedisplay of the warning icon of P71 being overlooked.

In all of the visible-light animation displays illustrated in FIG. 3A toFIG. 7, a part of the design indicating the intention of the conveyancecontent is constantly displayed such that there is no time during whichthe entire graphic is hidden. As a result, it is possible to implement avisible-light animation display that enables a user to quicklyunderstand the display content when the graphic issuing an alert isdisplayed without a risk of overlooking the graphic.

With such a visible-light animation, when the displays of a plurality ofdisplay patterns are switched, it is also possible to fade-in orfade-out a visible-light animation, or link a visible-light animationwith another display device, for example, a turn signal lamp.

Next, specific examples of the irradiation patterns stored in thelighting DB in FIG. 2 are described. The lighting control device 40illustrated in FIG. 2 discriminates the vehicle state based on varioustypes of information acquired from the overall control ECU 10, andextracts an irradiation pattern in line with the vehicle state from thelighting DB, which enables an appropriate visible-light animation to bedisplayed. Therefore, there are now described in detail four factors asthe adjustable elements of the irradiation pattern, namely, (1) timing,(2) brightness/color, (3) display position, and (4) size.

(1) Timing

The display timing may be adjusted in accordance with a pedestrian whoreceives information on the alert, or the driver of a two-wheeledvehicle or bicycle. As a specific example, the display timing may bechanged in accordance with the following parameters.

Parameter 1: Distance to person who receives information Parameter 2:Attribute of person who receives information

Regarding Parameter 1, for example, when the display is to be performedsuch that a pedestrian can visually recognize the display from aposition 10 m to 20 m away from the own vehicle, the lighting controldevice 40 may perform display control at the following timing, for anexample.

-   -   Start display three seconds or more before the vehicle starts to        move.    -   Stop display when the distance between the pedestrian and the        own vehicle becomes three meters or less.

Regarding Parameter 2, for example, when the information is to bepresented to the driver of a two-wheeled vehicle or a bicycle or to anelderly person, such a person tends to lean slightly forward more thanin the case of a pedestrian, and hence such a person has a lower fieldof view. Therefore, it is desired for the lighting control device 40 tostart the display at a slightly earlier timing in the case of such aperson than in the case of a pedestrian who is standing upright.

As another example, when the person who receives the information is achild, the child may be distracted by the display. Therefore, in such acase, the lighting control device 40 may set the timing to stop thedisplay comparatively earlier than for other people.

The data of the display timing corresponding to such Parameters 1 and 2can be stored in advance in the lighting DB as a database. As a result,the lighting control device 40 can extract from the lighting DB anirradiation pattern in line with the vehicle state discriminated basedon various types of information acquired from the overall control ECU10, and can perform a visible-light animation display having anappropriate display timing.

(2) Brightness and Color

It is desired to maintain a specific contrast difference between thedisplay surface and the non-display surface in view of the relationshipwith peripheral ambient light, the floor surface material, and otherconditions. Generally, it is said that the brightness contrastdifference of the light is to be maintained at a ratio of “displaysurface:non-display surface” of 4:1 or more.

However, there are various factors influencing the contrast, forexample, the material of the floor surface, and hence it is desired, butnot always required, that the brightness be adjusted in accordance withthe peripheral environment at that time.

When the display color is to be changed in order to secure thebrightness contrast difference, for example, when the color of the roadsurface is close to black, contrast adjustment may be performed byemploying as the display color a color based on light blue and white,such as light blue, yellow green, green, or white, and when the color ofthe road surface is close to white, employing a color based on yellowand white as the display color, such as yellow, yellow green, green, orwhite.

The brightness and color corresponding to such a display surface can bestored in advance in the lighting DB as a database. As a result, thelighting control device 40 can extract from the lighting DB anirradiation pattern in line with the vehicle state discriminated basedon various types of information acquired from the overall control ECU10, and can perform a visible-light animation display having anappropriate brightness and color.

(3) Display Position

The display position may be adjusted in accordance with the person whoreceives the alert information. As a specific example, the displayposition may be changed in accordance with Parameters 1 and 2 describedin the “(1) Timing” section.

Regarding Parameter 1, for example, when a pedestrian is at a position20 m to 30 m away from the own vehicle, an advance notice alert may bedisplayed in an area away from the own vehicle. Meanwhile, when thepedestrian is at a position 10 m to 20 m away from the own vehicle, anadvance notice alert may be displayed in an area close to the ownvehicle.

Regarding Parameter 2, for example, when the information is to bepresented to a drive of a two-wheeled vehicle or a bicycle or to anelderly person, such a person tends to lean slightly forward more thanin the case of a non-handicapped pedestrian, and hence such a person hasa lower field of view. Therefore, for people having such an attribute,it is desired for the lighting control device 40 to perform the displayat a position closer to the driver of the two-wheeled vehicle or thebicycle or the elderly person.

As described above, in addition to shifting the display position inaccordance with Parameter 2, for example, a special display, forexample, the warning icon described with reference to FIG. 7, may alsobe added. When the person who receives the information is a child, thechild may be distracted by the display. Therefore, in such a case, thelighting control device 40 may shift the display position or extinguishthe display when the child approaches.

The data of the display position corresponding to such Parameters 1 and2 can be stored in advance in the lighting DB as a database. As aresult, the lighting control device 40 can extract from the lighting DBan irradiation pattern in line with the vehicle state discriminatedbased on various types of information acquired from the overall controlECU 10, and can perform a visible-light animation display at anappropriate display position.

(4) Size

The display size may be adjusted in accordance with the distance to theperson who receives the alert information. As a specific example, forexample, when a pedestrian is at a position 10 m to 20 m away from theown vehicle, the display size may be set to 1 m square or more, and whenthe pedestrian is at a position 10 m or less from the own vehicle, thedisplay size may be set to be smaller.

The graphic to be displayed may be changed in accordance with thedistance between the person who receives the information and the ownvehicle. For example, when a pedestrian is at a position 10 m or moreaway from the own vehicle, the aspect ratio of the graphic may bestretched by a factor of 2 or more in the vertical direction.

In this way, the data of a display size corresponding to, for example, adistance to the person who receives the alert information can be storedin advance in the lighting DB as a database. As a result, the lightingcontrol device 40 can extract from the lighting DB an irradiationpattern in line with the vehicle state discriminated based on varioustypes of information acquired from the overall control ECU 10, and canperform a visible-light animation display by adjusting the displaycontent to a size that is easier to understand.

Next, a series of operations for implementing the visible-lightanimation display when issuing an alert from the automobile is describedwith reference to a flowchart. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for illustrating aseries of operations by the lighting control device 40 in the firstembodiment of the present invention. In the following description, thereis described the association with each constituent component in thelighting control device 40 illustrated in FIG. 2.

First, in Step ST101, the vehicle information acquisition unit 41 aacquires vehicle information from the vehicle. For example, the vehicleinformation acquisition unit 41 a acquires vehicle informationindicating that the position of the gearshift lever has moved from “P”to “D” and that a hand brake is turned “OFF”. The vehicle informationacquisition unit 41 a may also acquire vehicle information indicatingthat the position of the gearshift lever has moved from “P” to “R” andthat the hand brake is turned “OFF”, for example.

Next, in Step ST102, the vehicle state discrimination unit 41 bestimates a vehicle operation based on the vehicle information, andoutputs the estimated vehicle operation as a discrimination result tothe integrated discrimination unit 41 c.

For example, when vehicle information indicating that the position ofthe gearshift lever has moved from “P” to “D” and the hand brake isturned “OFF” is obtained, the vehicle state discrimination unit 41 bestimates that the own vehicle is about to move forward from astationary state. For example, when vehicle information indicating thatthe position of the gearshift lever has moved from “P” to “R” and thehand brake is turned “OFF” is obtained, the vehicle state discriminationunit 41 b may estimate that the vehicle is about to reverse from astationary state.

In addition to estimation of the vehicle operation, the vehicle statediscrimination unit 41 b may also determine the state of the vehicle andoutput the determined state to the integrated discrimination unit 41 cas a discrimination result. The vehicle state discrimination unit 41 bmay determine the state in which the door is unlocked, for example, byusing the door opening and closing sensor.

Next, in Step ST103, the integrated discrimination unit 41 cdiscriminates the information to be conveyed to the outside of thevehicle based on the discrimination result of the vehicle statediscrimination unit 41 b. For example, when a discrimination resultindicating that “the own vehicle is about to move forward from astationary state” is obtained, the integrated discrimination unit 41 cmay transmit to the lighting discrimination unit 43 a a message that theinformation to be conveyed to the outside of the vehicle is irradiationof an alert that the vehicle is to move forward, as illustrated in FIG.5A or FIG. 5B described above.

For example, when a discrimination result indicating that opening of adoor is triggered, such as “a door has been unlocked” or “a person inthe vehicle has placed his or her hand on the door handle”, is obtained,the integrated discrimination unit 41 c may transmit to the lightingdiscrimination unit 43 a a message that the information to be conveyedto the outside of the vehicle is irradiation of an alert that a door isabout to open, as illustrated in FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C described above.

Next, in Step ST104, when the information to be conveyed to the outsideof the vehicle is received from the integrated discrimination unit 41 c,the lighting discrimination unit 43 a refers to the lighting DB 43 b todiscriminate lighting by a plurality of irradiation patterns suitablefor information to be conveyed to the outside of the vehicle.Specifically, the lighting discrimination unit 43 a generates aplurality of irradiation patterns suitable for information to beconveyed to the outside of the vehicle.

As a result, the lighting discrimination unit 43 a can generate aplurality of irradiation patterns, such as those illustrated in FIG. 3A,FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C, FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C, FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 6,and FIG. 7.

Next, in Step ST105, the lighting instruction unit 43 c controls eachlight device by transmitting an irradiation instruction to each lightdevice in accordance with an instruction from the lightingdiscrimination unit 43 a. Specifically, the lighting instruction unit 43c performs a visible-light animation display by switching andcontrolling the plurality of irradiation patterns generated by thelighting discrimination unit 43 a.

The lighting instruction unit 43 c may also instruct an in-vehiclespeaker to output audio matching a visible-light animation when thevisible-light animation is irradiated onto the road surface. At thistime, the lighting instruction unit 43 c may output the audio to, forexample, the driver inside the vehicle, or may output the audio to aperson outside the vehicle.

As described above, in the first embodiment, a visible-light animationcan be provided to a pedestrian or the driver of a bicycle or atwo-wheeled vehicle who is to receive the alert information, under astate in which the display element indicating the intention of theconveyance content is constantly displayed. As a result, pedestrians anddrivers of bicycles or two-wheeled vehicles in the periphery of thevehicle can pay attention to the warning on the display and quickly takeavoidance action.

Pedestrians, for example, can also understand that the area in which thealert is displayed is the road surface or the vehicle body. Pedestrians,for example, can also quickly understand, based on the visible-lightanimation, the content of the alert and the area to be alerted, withouta risk of the alert content and area being overlooked.

The maximum range in which a door physically opens (e.g., refer to FIG.3A and FIG. 3B) and the maximum area in which the vehicle is expected tomove (e.g., refer to FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C) can also be constantlydisplayed as a display element indicating the intention of theconveyance content. As a result, a pedestrian or the driver of a bicycleor two-wheeled vehicle in the periphery of the vehicle can take anappropriate and quick avoidance action based on the constantly displayedcontent, which enables an unexpected situation to be prevented inadvance.

Second Embodiment

In the first embodiment, there is described a visible-light animationdisplay at a time when an alert is issued from the automobile.Meanwhile, in a second embodiment of the present invention, there isdescribed a case of a visible-light animation display at a time whenguidance of an appropriate movement path is issued to a user in abuilding, for example.

First, a hardware configuration is described.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram for illustrating a configuration diagram ofhardware in the second embodiment of the present invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 9, a facility in the second embodiment includes asensor group 120 including various sensors, cameras, and the like. Anoverall control micro processing unit (MPU) 110 can control the hardwareby transmitting various instructions to other hardware based oninformation obtained from the various sensors in the sensor group 120.

The overall control MPU 110 transmits predetermined information receivedfrom other hardware to an integrated discrimination MPU in a lightingcontrol device 140 via a bus. The lighting control device 140 controlslight devices 150 for the facility, such as an external light device A,an external light device B, and a projector device, based on theinformation received from the overall control MPU 110.

In FIG. 9, the sensor group 120 includes a door opening and closingsensor, a human sensor, a card reader, a fire detector, and a monitoringcamera.

The overall control MPU 110 receives information detected by each sensorin the sensor group 120 and images photographed by the cameras.

The various sensors included in the sensor group 120 are now described.

The door opening and closing sensor detects opening and closing of adoor of an elevator installed in the facility. The door opening andclosing sensor outputs information on opening and closing of the door tothe overall control MPU 110.

The human sensor detects the presence or absence of a person in adetection area. The human sensor outputs information on the presence orabsence of a person to the overall control MPU 110.

The card reader is a sensor set at an entrance or exit of an area forwhich entry and exit are controlled. The card reader outputs IDinformation, entry and exit information, destination information, andthe like stored on the card to the overall control MPU 110.

The fire detector detects the occurrence of fire in the installedregion. The fire detector outputs the detection result as fireinformation to the overall control MPU 110.

The monitoring camera is a camera (image pickup device) arranged inorder to photograph the inside of the installation area. The monitoringcamera outputs each photographed image to the overall control MPU 110.The overall control MPU 110 can detect and recognize people anddetermine an attribute of those people based on each photographed image.

Next, the overall control MPU 110 is described.

The overall control MPU 110 is an MPU having a function of controllingthe entire facility. The overall control MPU 110 acquires the detectioninformation from the various sensors, and based on the acquiredinformation, executes control of the entire facility by transmittinginstructions and information to appropriately operate each unit of thefacility.

The overall control MPU 110 includes a processor, a read-only memory(ROM), and a random-access memory (RAM). The processor is an arithmeticprocessing circuit configured to execute various arithmetic processingin the overall control MPU 110. The processor is hardware that, inaddition to the processor, can also be referred to by variousdesignations, such as an arithmetic processing circuit, an electriccircuit, and a controller.

The processor is built from one or a collection of two or morearithmetic processing circuits. The processor can execute arithmeticprocessing by reading a program from the ROM and running the readprogram in the RAM.

The ROM is a nonvolatile storage device storing one or more programs.The RAM is a volatile storage device to be used as an area onto whichprograms and various types of information are to be loaded by theprocessor. The ROM and the RAM are built from, for example, asemiconductor storage device, and can also be referred to as “memory”.

In the second embodiment, there is described an example in which the ROMis a storage device storing a program to be executed by the processor,but the storage device is not limited to this, and may be, for example,a nonvolatile mass storage device referred to as “storage”, such as ahard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD).

The storage devices including a storage may be collectively referred toas “memory”. The configuration of such a memory is the same for theintegrated discrimination MPU and the light control MPU, which aredescribed later.

Next, each constituent component of a facility control target 130 inFIG. 1 is described.

A lighting system controls the lighting in the facility in an integratedmanner. An air-conditioning system controls the lighting in the facilityin an integrated manner. An entry and exit management system managesentry into and exit from each designated region in the facility. Anelevator system controls the operation of the elevator installed in thefacility.

Next, each constituent component of the lighting control device 140 inFIG. 9 is described.

The lighting control device 140 is a control device having a function ofcontrolling the light devices installed in the facility. The lightingcontrol device 140 includes an integrated discrimination MPU, a wirelesscommunication device, and a light control MPU.

The facility in the second embodiment has a function of conveyingguidance, warnings, and the like to various places in the facility byirradiation of light from various light devices. In this case, the“light device” refers to the light devices 150, which is a collectiveterm for a facility light device A, a facility light device B, and aprojector device, which are described later.

The integrated discrimination MPU is a device having a function ofdiscriminating the situation of the facility based on various types ofinformation input from the overall control MPU 110, and determining thecontent to be conveyed to the surroundings by the light devices 150.Like the overall control MPU 110, the integrated discrimination MPUincludes a processor, a ROM, and a RAM.

The integrated discrimination MPU receives various types of informationfrom the overall control MPU 110, determines the state of the facility,and transmits information for controlling the irradiation of each lightdevice to the light control MPU. The integrated discrimination ECU alsotransmits to the wireless communication device an instruction relatingto communication.

The wireless communication device is a communication device configuredto perform wireless communication to and from an external communicationdevice. The wireless communication device uses a specific frequency bandto perform communication to and from the control device of anotherfacility, a higher-level control device, and a communicable electronicdevice carried by a person, for example, a smartphone.

This communication may be unique communication using a specificallydetermined frequency band, or may be communication using a standardizedcommunication standard. This communication may also be communicationusing existing communication standards such as wireless local areanetwork (LAN), Bluetooth (trademark), and Zigbee (trademark).

The wireless communication device transmits wireless signals from atransmitting unit to another device via an antenna, and receiveswireless signals from another device from a receiving unit via theantenna.

The light control MPU is a control device configured to determine thelight to be irradiated by each light device and transmit an instructionto the light devices 150. The light control MPU includes a processor, aROM, and a RAM. The light control MPU determines an irradiation patternof each light device based on information input from the integrateddiscrimination MPU, and transmits an irradiation instruction to eachlight device based on the determined irradiation pattern.

In this case, the “irradiation pattern” refers to a pattern formed fromone display element or from a combination of two or more displayelements. The irradiation pattern has adjustable elements, such as anirradiation shape, position, size, color, timing, brightness, andduration, which enables the visibility of the pattern to be changed inaccordance with a peripheral environment under which the pattern is tobe displayed.

Next, each constituent component of the light devices 150 in FIG. 9 isdescribed.

The facility light device A is an irradiation device mounted so as toface a predetermined region within the facility. The facility lightdevice A has a function of conveying information, such as a guidance anda warning, to users in the facility by irradiating light onto a floorsurface or a wall surface. In order to convey such information to usersin the facility, the facility light device A irradiates light onto thefloor surface and the like in an irradiation pattern suitable forconveying the information.

The facility light device A has a facility light driver and a facilitylight set. The facility light driver is a driving device configured todrive the facility light set to cause the facility light set toirradiate predetermined light.

The facility light driver A has a function of controlling a combinationof an irradiation timing, an irradiation time, and the like of eachfacility light in the facility light set. The facility light driver Acan also operate a color filter, a shade, a light guiding mechanism, andthe like arranged in the facility lights to irradiate light having thepredetermined irradiation pattern onto a predetermined area.

A facility light set A includes a plurality of facility lights(irradiation devices). A plurality of facility lights are turned onbased on control by the facility light driver.

The facility light device B is an irradiation device mounted so as toface a predetermined region within the facility. The facility lightdevice B has a function of conveying information, such as a guidance anda warning, to users in the facility by irradiating light onto a floorsurface or a wall surface. In order to convey such information to usersin the facility, the facility light device B irradiates light onto thefloor surface and the like in an irradiation pattern suitable forconveying the information.

The facility light device B has a facility light driver and a facilitylight set. The facility light driver is a driving device configured todrive the facility light set to cause the facility light set toirradiate predetermined light.

The facility light driver B has a function of controlling a combinationof an irradiation timing, an irradiation time, and the like of eachfacility light in the facility light set. The facility light driver Bcan also operate a color filter, a shade, a light guiding mechanism, andthe like arranged in the facility lights to irradiate light having thepredetermined irradiation pattern onto a predetermined area.

A facility light set B includes a plurality of facility lights(irradiation devices). A plurality of facility lights are turned onbased on control by the operation of the facility light driver.

The projector device is an image projection device mounted so as to facea predetermined region within the facility. The projector device has afunction of conveying information, such as a guidance, a warning, andthe like, to users in the facility by irradiating light onto a floorsurface or a wall surface. In order to convey such information to usersin the facility, the projector device irradiates (projects) light ontothe floor surface and the like in an irradiation pattern suitable forconveying the information.

The projector device includes a projector driver and a projector. Theprojector driver is a driving device configured to drive the projectorto cause the projector to irradiate predetermined light. The projectordriver has a function of controlling the irradiation pattern of thelight irradiated by the projector.

The projector is an irradiation (projection) device configured toirradiate (project) light (image) in the facility. The projectorirradiates light (image) in the facility (onto the floor surface or thewall surface) based on the operation of the projector driver.

Next, details of the specific control processing by the lighting controldevice 140 are described.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram for illustrating a functional configurationof the lighting control device 140 in the second embodiment of thepresent invention. The lighting control device 140 in the secondembodiment includes an integrated discrimination MPU 141, a wirelesscommunication unit 142, and a light control MPU 143.

The integrated discrimination MPU 141 in the lighting control device 140includes a user situation acquisition unit 141 a, a user statediscrimination unit 141 b, and an integrated discrimination unit 141 c.The light control MPU 143 in the lighting control device 140 includes alighting discrimination unit 143 a, a lighting DB 143 b, and a lightinginstruction unit 143 c.

The user situation acquisition unit 141 a has a function of acquiringvarious types of information from the overall control MPU 110. Theinformation acquired by the user situation acquisition unit 141 acorresponds to information on the movement of people in the facility,which is obtained from, for example, information such as the detectioninformation from the door opening and closing sensor, the human sensor,the fire detector, and the like mounted to indoor and outdoorfacilities, and recognition information based on cameras mounted in thepaths of the facility. The user situation acquisition unit 141 atransmits the acquired information to the user state discrimination unit141 b.

The user state discrimination unit 141 b has a function ofdiscriminating the display content based on the information on themovement of people in the facility received from the user situationacquisition unit 141 a. For example, the user situation acquisition unit141 a can discriminate the presence or absence of moving people and anattribute of those people from the door opening and closing sensorsattached to the doors and entrances between rooms, door opening andclosing sensors attached to elevator doors, detection information fromcard readers, and the like.

The user situation acquisition unit 141 a can also discriminate thepresence or absence of a person in a display or projection area and anattribute of that person, or the presence or absence of a person withina range in which a display or projection area can be visibly recognizedand an attribute of that person, based on the detection information fromthe human sensors or cameras installed in an equipment area displayingor projecting the guidance.

The integrated discrimination unit 141 c has a function ofdiscriminating the information to be conveyed to the users in thefacility based on the discrimination result of the user statediscrimination unit 141 b. For example, the integrated discriminationunit 141 c transmits to the lighting discrimination unit 143 a, asinformation to be conveyed to the facility users, an instruction toperform irradiation for identifying and displaying the destinationfacility and the direction of that location in places where the paths inthe facility branch off.

When the fire detector is operating, the integrated discrimination unit141 c transmits to the lighting discrimination unit 143 a, asinformation to be conveyed to the facility users, an instruction toperform irradiation for evacuation guidance by presenting an evacuationpath to the facility users.

The integrated discrimination unit 141 c also has a function ofcontrolling wireless communication based on the discrimination result ofthe user state discrimination unit 141 b. The wireless communicationunit 142 executes wireless communication to and from an external devicein accordance with an instruction from the integrated discriminationunit 141 c.

When the lighting discrimination unit 143 a in the light control MPU 143receives the information to be conveyed to the facility users from theintegrated discrimination unit 141 c, the lighting discrimination unit143 a refers to the lighting DB 143 b and discriminates a suitablelighting irradiation pattern for the information to be conveyed to thefacility users.

The functions of the light control MPU 143 illustrated in FIG. 10 in thesecond embodiment are the same as the functions of the light control MPU143 illustrated in FIG. 2 in the first embodiment, but the data storedin the lighting DB 143 b is different. Therefore, a description of eachcomponent is omitted, and a specific example of the irradiation patternsstored in the lighting DB 143 b is described later. First, there isdescribed with reference to the drawings a specific case ofvisible-light animations that are projected and displayed in order toperform guidance of an appropriate movement path to a user in a buildingor the like.

In the second embodiment, there are described specific examples ofvisible-light animations corresponding to the following three cases.

[Case 1] Visible-light animation combining display of destinationfacility, which is guidance target, and graphic indicating direction

[Case 2] Visible-light animation combining display of destinationfacility, which is guidance target, and graphic indicating direction, inwhich graphic indicating direction is different from that of Case 1

[Case 3] Visible-light animation displaying content of destinationfacility as well as location of destination facility, and combininggraphics indicating direction between both displays

The aim of each of Case 1 to Case 3 is to display a graphic indicatingthe destination facility of the guidance target and a graphic indicatingthe direction as a set, and to apply a visible-light animation relatingto the graphic indicating the direction in order to promptly performguidance in a building.

[Case 1] Visible-light animation combining display of destinationfacility, which is guidance target, and graphic indicating direction

FIG. 11 is a diagram for illustrating an example of a firstvisible-light animation combining the display of the destinationfacility and a graphic indicating the direction in the second embodimentof the present invention. In FIG. 11, there is illustrated a state inwhich a dynamic display is performed by sequentially switching among thefollowing three types of displays of P111 to P113.

P111: Display enabling name of destination facility and direction oflocation to be visualized

P112: Display in which the number of arrows is increased to two in orderto further emphasize the direction

P113: Display in which the number of arrows is increased to three inorder to still further emphasize the direction

The display of P111 in FIG. 11 corresponds to a display elementindicating the intention of the conveyance content. The lighting controldevice 140 repeatedly blinks the displays of P111 to P113. At this time,the state of P111, which is a display element indicating the intentionof the conveyance content, is also included in the displays of P112 andP113. Therefore, even when the displays of P111 to P113 are sequentiallyswitched, the facility user can constantly visually recognize P111,which is a display element indicating the intention of the conveyancecontent, at all times.

As a result, the lighting control device 140 can execute a visible-lightanimation display that enables the facility user to quickly understandthe conveyance content without a risk of the display of P111 beingoverlooked.

[Case 2] Visible-light animation combining display of destinationfacility, which is guidance target, and graphic indicating direction, inwhich graphic indicating direction is different from that of Case 1

FIG. 12 is a diagram for illustrating an example of a secondvisible-light animation combining the display of the destinationfacility and a graphic indicating the direction in the second embodimentof the present invention. In FIG. 12, there is illustrated a state inwhich a dynamic display is performed by sequentially switching among thefollowing three types of displays of P121 to P123.

P121: Display enabling name of destination facility and direction oflocation to be visualized

P122 and P123: Display of sliding animation in addition to display ofP121 in order to further emphasize direction

In the first visible-light animation illustrated in FIG. 11, a dynamicdisplay is performed by changing the number of arrows that aredisplayed. In contrast, in the second visible-light animationillustrated in FIG. 12, a dynamic display is performed by sliding agraphic meaning the movement direction.

The display of P121 in FIG. 12 corresponds to a display elementindicating the intention of the conveyance content. The lighting controldevice 140 repeatedly blinks the displays of P121 to P123. At this time,the state of P121, which is a display element indicating the intentionof the conveyance content, is also included in the displays of P122 andP123. Therefore, even when the displays of P121 to P123 are sequentiallyswitched, the facility user can constantly visually recognize P121,which is a display element indicating the intention of the conveyancecontent, at all times.

As a result, the lighting control device 140 can execute a visible-lightanimation display that enables the facility user to quickly understandthe conveyance content without a risk of the display of P121 beingoverlooked.

[Case 3] Visible-light animation displaying content of destinationfacility as well as location of destination facility, and combininggraphics indicating direction between both displays

FIG. 13 is a diagram for illustrating an example of a thirdvisible-light animation combining the display of the destinationfacility and a graphic indicating the direction in the second embodimentof the present invention. In FIG. 13, there is illustrated a state inwhich a dynamic display is performed by sequentially switching among thefollowing three types of displays of P131 to P133.

P131: Displays enabling identification of the destination facility aredisplayed on the left side and the right side, and a graphic indicatingthe direction is displayed in combination therewith on the left sidebetween the left and right displays

P132: Display in which information complementing the destinationfacility and the direction is displayed in the middle

In FIG. 13, although the complementary information is simply representedby a line segment, the complementary information may also be displayedas information supplementing appropriate characters, graphics, and thelike.

P133: Display in which a graphic indicating the direction is added onthe right side between the left and right displays in order to furtheremphasize the direction

In the first visible-light animation illustrated in FIG. 11, a dynamicdisplay is performed by changing the number of arrows that aredisplayed. In the second visible-light animation illustrated in FIG. 12,a dynamic display is performed by sliding a graphic meaning the movementdirection. In contrast, in the third visible-light animation illustratedin FIG. 13, a dynamic display is performed by displaying complementaryinformation and changing the number of arrows that are displayed.

The display of P131 in FIG. 13 corresponds to a display elementindicating the intention of the conveyance content. The lighting controldevice 140 repeatedly blinks the displays of P131 to P133. At this time,the state of P131, which is a display element indicating the intentionof the conveyance content, is also included in the displays of P132 andP133. Therefore, even when the displays of P131 to P133 are sequentiallyswitched, the facility user can constantly visually recognize P131,which is a display element indicating the intention of the conveyancecontent, at all times.

As a result, the lighting control device 140 can execute a visible-lightanimation display that enables the facility user to quickly understandthe conveyance content without a risk of the display of P131 beingoverlooked.

In all of the visible-light animation displays illustrated in FIG. 11 toFIG. 13, a display enabling identification of the destination facilityand a display indicating the direction are constantly displayed suchthat there is no time during which those displays are not displayed. Asa result, when information urging the movement direction toward thedestination facility is displayed, a visible-light animation displaythat enables a user to quickly understand the display content without arisk of the information urging the movement direction being overlookedcan be implemented.

Next, specific examples of the irradiation patterns stored in thelighting DB in FIG. 10 are described. The lighting control device 140illustrated in FIG. 10 discriminates a peripheral environmental statebased on various types of information acquired from the overall controlMPU 110, and extracts an irradiation pattern in line with the peripheralenvironmental state from the lighting DB, which enables an appropriatevisible-light animation to be displayed. Therefore, there are nowdescribed in detail four factors as the adjustable elements of theirradiation pattern, namely, (1) timing, (2) brightness/color, (3)display position, and (4) size.

(1) Timing

The display timing may be adjusted in accordance with a situation of afacility user who receives the information on guidance of a movementpath. As a specific example, the timing to start, suspend, and enddisplay of a visible-light animation may be controlled.

Specific examples of each condition for controlling the timing to start,suspend, and end the visible-light animation display are shown below.

Start condition: Start display and projection of the visible-lightanimation when there is a user within the range in which the display orprojection area can be seen, or start display and projection of thevisible-light animation when there is a user passing through a specificdoor or card reader.

Suspension condition: Suspend display and projection of thevisible-light animation when the number of people in the area in whichthe guidance is to be displayed or projected exceeds a permitted number,because the guidance may not be able to be seen due to a plurality ofpeople getting in the way.

End condition: End display and projection when there are no peoplewithin the range in which the display or projection area can be seen.

The data corresponding to each of the start, suspension, and endconditions can be stored in advance in the lighting DB as a database. Asa result, the lighting control device 140 can extract from the lightingDB an irradiation pattern in line with the peripheral environmentalstate discriminated based on various types of information acquired fromthe overall control MPU 110, and can perform a visible-light animationdisplay having an appropriate display timing.

(2) Brightness and Color

It is desired to maintain a specific contrast difference between thedisplay surface and the non-display surface in view of the relationshipwith peripheral ambient light, the floor surface material, and the like.Generally, it is said that the brightness contrast difference of thelight is to be maintained at a ratio of “display surface:non-displaysurface” of 4:1 or more.

However, there are various factors influencing the contrast, forexample, the material of the floor surface, and hence it is desired, butnot always required, that the brightness be adjusted in accordance withthe peripheral environment state at that time.

When the display color is to be changed in order to secure thebrightness contrast difference, for example, when the color of the floorsurface or the wall surface is close to black, contrast adjustment maybe performed by employing as the display color a color based on lightblue and white, such as light blue, yellow green, green, or white, andwhen the color of the floor surface or the wall surface is close towhite, employing a color based on yellow and white as the display color,such as yellow, yellow green, green, or white.

The brightness and color corresponding to such information on a displaysurface can be stored in advance in the lighting DB as a database. As aresult, the lighting control device 140 can extract from the lighting DBan irradiation pattern in line with the peripheral environmental statediscriminated based on various types of information acquired from theoverall control MPU 110, and can perform a visible-light animationdisplay having an appropriate brightness and color.

(3) Display Position

The display position may be adjusted in accordance with the situation ofa person who receives the information on guidance of a movement path. Asa specific example, the display position may be changed in accordancewith the following parameters.

Parameter 1: Presence or absence of a person within the range in whichthe display or projection area can be seen

Parameter 2: Presence or absence of a person in the area of the floorsurface or the wall surface on which guidance is to be displayed orprojected

Parameter 3: Attribute of a facility user who requires guidance of themovement path

Regarding Parameter 1, for example, the display position may be variedin accordance with the distance to a person within the range in whichthe display or projection area can be seen. Specifically, for example,the display position may be set differently in a case in which theperson is at a distance of less than 5 m from a case in which the personis at a distance of 5 m or more away, or supplementary information maybe provided by displaying an additional graphic in accordance with thedistance.

Regarding Parameter 2, for example, when there are a plurality of peoplein the display or projection area of the guidance, the display positionof the graphic may be shifted to reduce the ratio of the area hidden bypeople.

Regarding Parameter 3, when a person recognized for Parameters 1 and 2has an attribute of a lower eye gaze, for example, in the case of awheelchair user or an elderly person, the visible range of the floorsurface is narrow. Therefore, for example, the display position may beshifted closer to the wheelchair user or the elderly person, or theinformation may be supplemented by displaying an additional graphic.

The data of the display position corresponding to such Parameters 1 to 3can be stored in advance in the lighting DB as a database. As a result,the lighting control device 140 can extract from the lighting DB anirradiation pattern in line with the peripheral environmental statediscriminated based on various types of information acquired from theoverall control MPU 110, and can perform a visible-light animationdisplay at an appropriate display position.

(4) Size

The display size may be adjusted in accordance with information onmovement by a person who receives information on guidance of themovement path. As a specific example, the display size may be adjustedin accordance with Parameters 1 to 3 described in the “(3) DisplayPosition” section.

Regarding Parameter 1, for example, the display size may be varied inaccordance with the distance to a person within the range in which thedisplay or projection area can be seen. Specifically, for example, thesize of one graphic may be set to about 50 cm when the person is at adistance of less than 5 m, and the size of the graphic may be increasedto about 100 cm when the person is at a distance of 5 m or more away.

Regarding Parameter 2, for example, when there are a plurality of peoplein the display or projection area of the guidance, the ratio of the areain the display graphic hidden by people may be reduced by increasing thesize of the graphic itself.

Regarding Parameter 3, when a person recognized for Parameters 1 and 2has an attribute of a lower eye gaze, for example, in the case of awheelchair user or an elderly person, the visible range of the floorsurface is narrow. Therefore, the size of the graphic may be set to belarge.

When guidance is performed by a projection method, the size is adjustedsuch that the display does not touch other items (such as walls andequipment) in the facility. When it is required to improve the displaybrightness in accordance with the peripheral brightness, the displaysize may be reduced to improve the brightness.

In this way, the data of the display size corresponding to the situationof the person who receives the information on guidance of the movementpath can be stored in advance in the lighting DB as a database. As aresult, the lighting control device 140 can extract from the lighting DBan irradiation pattern in line with the peripheral environmental statediscriminated based on various types of information acquired from theoverall control MPU 110, and can perform a visible-light animationdisplay by adjusting the display content to a size that is easier tounderstand.

Next, a series of operations for implementing the visible-lightanimation display when issuing guidance of an appropriate movement pathto a facility user is described with reference to a flowchart. FIG. 14is a flowchart for illustrating a series of operations by the lightingcontrol device 140 in the second embodiment of the present invention. Inthe following description, there is described the association with eachconstituent component in the lighting control device 140 illustrated inFIG. 10.

First, in Step ST201, the user situation acquisition unit 141 a acquiresvarious types of information on the movement of people in the facilityfrom the facility side. The user situation acquisition unit 141 aacquires, for example, detection information from door opening andclosing sensors, or detection information from human sensors.

Next, in Step ST202, the user state discrimination unit 141 b estimatesa user operation based on the information acquired by the user situationacquisition unit 141 a, and outputs the estimated user operation to theintegrated discrimination unit 141 c as a discrimination result.

For example, when information indicating that a door of an entranceleading to a movie theater in the facility is open has been obtained,the user state discrimination unit 141 b estimates that the user isgoing to the movie theater.

In addition to estimation of a user operation, the user statediscrimination unit 141 b may determine a state of the user and outputthe determined state as the discrimination result to the integrateddiscrimination unit 141 c. For example, the user state discriminationunit 141 b may determine a state in which the user is proceeding alongone of the paths of a branched path by using a human sensor installed inthe branch area in the facility.

Next, in Step ST203, the integrated discrimination unit 141 cdiscriminates, based on the discrimination result of the user statediscrimination unit 141 b, the information to be conveyed to the user.For example, when a discrimination result that “the user is going to themovie theater” is obtained, the integrated discrimination unit 141 c maytransmit to the lighting discrimination unit 143 a a message that theinformation to be conveyed to the user is to perform irradiation forguidance to the movie theater, which is the destination facility, likethose illustrated in FIG. 11 to FIG. 13.

When a discrimination result of a “state in which the user is at abranched path” is obtained, the integrated discrimination unit 141 c maytransmit to the lighting discrimination unit 143 a a message that theinformation to be conveyed to the user is to perform irradiation foridentifying and displaying each destination facility corresponding tothe branched path and the location direction thereof.

Next, in Step ST204, when the information to be conveyed to the user isreceived from the integrated discrimination unit 141 c, the lightingdiscrimination unit 143 a refers to the lighting DB 143 b, anddiscriminates lighting by a plurality of irradiation patterns suitablefor information to be conveyed to the user. Specifically, the lightingdiscrimination unit 143 a generates a plurality of irradiation patternssuitable for information to be conveyed to the user.

As a result, the lighting discrimination unit 143 a can generate aplurality of irradiation patterns, such as those illustrated as examplesin FIG. 11, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13.

Next, in Step ST205, the lighting instruction unit 143 c controls eachlight device by transmitting an irradiation instruction to each lightdevice in accordance with an instruction from the lightingdiscrimination unit 143 a. Specifically, the lighting instruction unit143 c performs a visible-light animation display by switching andcontrolling the plurality of irradiation patterns generated by thelighting discrimination unit 143 a.

The lighting instruction unit 143 c may also instruct a speaker in thefacility to output audio matching the visible-light animation to beirradiated on the floor surface or the wall surface.

As described above, in the second embodiment, a visible-light animationcan be provided to a facility user who is to receive information onguidance of a movement path, under a state in which the display elementindicating the intention of the conveyance content is constantlydisplayed. As a result, the facility user can quickly move to thedestination facility in accordance with the display content.

In the second embodiment, a visible-light animation display for guidinga facility user to the location of a destination facility is describedin detail. However, a visible-light animation display may be appliedeven in applications such as guidance of an evacuation path at a timewhen a disaster has occurred in the facility.

Third Embodiment

In the second embodiment, there is described a visible-light animationin which a part of a graphic indicating a direction is constantlydisplayed at a fixed position, like P111 in FIG. 11, P121 in FIG. 12,and P131 in FIG. 13, when guidance of an appropriate movement path isissued to, for example, a user in a building. However, in a thirdembodiment of the present invention, there is described a visible-lightanimation in which a graphic indicating a direction is constantlydisplayed while the graphic is being moved.

The hardware configuration is the same as that in FIG. 9 in the secondembodiment, and the functional configuration of the lighting controldevice 140 is the same as in FIG. 10 in the second embodiment, and hencea description thereof is omitted here. Therefore, in the following,there is described in detail with reference to the drawings avisible-light animation in the third embodiment, which is projected ordisplayed while a graphic indicating a direction is being moved, inorder to issue guidance of an appropriate movement path to, for example,the user in a building.

In the third embodiment, there are described specific examples ofvisible-light animations corresponding to the following three cases.

[Case 1] First visible-light animation combining display of destinationfacility, which is guidance target, and sliding graphic indicatingdirection

[Case 2] Second visible-light animation combining display of destinationfacility, which is guidance target, and sliding graphic indicatingdirection

[Case 3] Third visible-light animation combining display of destinationfacility, which is guidance target, and sliding graphic indicatingdirection

In Case 1 and Case 2, there is a difference regarding whether thedirection of the sliding animation indicating the direction is displayedso as to move away from the display of the destination facility ordisplayed so as to move toward the display of the destination facility.Case 3 is different from Cases 1 and 2 in that movement in twodirections, namely, moving forward and then moving left, is displayed asthe sliding animation, whereas the movement in one direction isdisplayed as the sliding animation in Cases 1 and 2.

The aim of each of Case 1 to Case 3 is to display a graphic indicatingthe destination facility of the guidance target and a sliding graphicindicating the direction as a set, and to apply a visible-lightanimation relating to the sliding graphic indicating the direction inorder to promptly perform guidance in a building.

[Case 1] First visible-light animation combining display of destinationfacility as guidance target and sliding graphic indicating direction

FIG. 15 is a diagram for illustrating an example of a firstvisible-light animation combining a display of the destination facilityand a sliding graphic indicating a direction in the third embodiment ofthe present invention. In FIG. 15, there is illustrated a state in whicha dynamic display is performed in such a manner that an arrow slides tothe right. The following three types of displays of P151 to P153 arerepresentative examples of the progress of the arrow sliding to theright. As a result, a sliding animation can be implemented under a statein which one or more arrows are constantly displayed.

P151: Display enabling name of destination facility and direction oflocation to be visualized, which corresponds to starting state ofsliding operation

P152: Display indicating current progress by sliding and displayingarrow in right direction, which is movement direction, from state ofP151, in order to further emphasize direction

P153: Display indicating a state in which an arrow at the left end isagain displayed and a sliding operation is started when a slid arrowreaches the right end

In each of the three types of displays of P151, P152, and P153 in FIG.15, the destination facility has the same name and is displayed at afixed position. The sliding graphic is not located at a fixed position,but the sliding graphic is always displayed as a graphic indicating thedirection. In other words, the three types of displays of P151, P152,and P153 in FIG. 15 are not a single common display, but the combinationof the name and the methodology of the destination facility isconstantly displayed as a display element indicating the intention ofthe conveyance content.

The lighting control device 140 repeatedly blinks the displays of P151to P153. At this time, the display element indicating the intention ofthe conveyance content is included in all of the displays of P151 toP153. Therefore, even when the displays of P151 to P153 are sequentiallyswitched, a facility user can constantly visually recognize the displayelement indicating the intention of the conveyance content at all times.

As a result, the lighting control device 140 can execute a visible-lightanimation display that enables a facility user to quickly understand theconveyance content without a risk of the display element indicating theintention of the conveyance content being overlooked.

[Case 2] Second visible-light animation combining display of destinationfacility as guidance target and sliding graphic indicating direction

FIG. 16 is a diagram for illustrating an example of a secondvisible-light animation combining a display of the destination facilityand a sliding graphic indicating a direction in the third embodiment ofthe present invention. In FIG. 16, there is illustrated a state in whicha dynamic display is performed in such a manner that an arrow slides tothe left. The following three types of displays of P161 to P163 arerepresentative examples of the progress of the arrow sliding to theleft. As a result, a sliding animation can be implemented under a statein which one or more arrows are constantly displayed.

P161: Display enabling name of destination facility and direction oflocation to be visualized, which corresponds to starting state ofsliding operation

P162: Display indicating current progress by sliding and displayingarrow in left direction, which is movement direction, from state ofP161, in order to further emphasize direction

P163: Display indicating state in which an arrow at the right end isagain displayed and a sliding operation is started when a slid arrowreaches the left end

In each of the three types of displays of P161, P162, and P163 in FIG.16, the destination facility has the same name and is displayed at afixed position. The sliding graphic is not located at a fixed position,but the sliding graphic is always displayed as a graphic indicating thedirection. In other words, the three types of displays of P161, P162,and P163 in FIG. 16 are not a single common display, but the combinationof the name and the methodology of the destination facility isconstantly displayed as a display element indicating the intention ofthe conveyance content.

The lighting control device 140 repeatedly blinks displays of the P161to P163. At this time, the display element indicating the intention ofthe conveyance content is included in all of the displays of P161 toP163. Therefore, even when the displays of P161 to P163 are sequentiallyswitched, a facility user can constantly visually recognize the displayelement indicating the intention of the conveyance content at all times.

As a result, the lighting control device 140 can execute a visible-lightanimation display that enables a facility user to quickly understand theconveyance content without a risk of the display element indicating theintention of the conveyance content being overlooked.

[Case 3] Third visible-light animation combining display of destinationfacility as guidance target and sliding graphic indicating direction

FIG. 17 is a diagram for illustrating an example of a thirdvisible-light animation combining a display of the destination facilityand a sliding graphic indicating a direction in the third embodiment ofthe present invention. In FIG. 17, there is illustrated a state in whicha dynamic display is performed in such a manner that the arrow slides tothe left after moving upward (in a straight direction). The followingfive kinds of displays of P171 to P175 are representative example ofprogress of an arrow sliding in two directions. As a result, a slidinganimation can be implemented under a state in which one or more arrowsare constantly displayed.

P171: Display enabling name of destination facility and initial movementdirection at present time to be visualized, which corresponds tostarting state of sliding operation

P172: Display indicating current progress by sliding and displayingarrow in straight direction, which is movement direction, from state ofP171, in order to further emphasize direction

P173: Display indicating a state in which a sliding operation in theleft direction is to start when the slid arrow reaches the upper end andthen the left direction arrow indicating left turn is displayed

P174: Display indicating current progress by sliding and displayingarrow in left direction, which is movement direction, from state ofP173, in order to further emphasize direction in left direction aftermovement straight ahead

P175: Display indicating a state in which the arrow of P171 is againdisplayed and a sliding operation is started when the slid arrow reachesthe left end

In each of the five types of displays of P171, P172, P173, P174, andP175 in FIG. 17, the destination facility has the same name and isdisplayed at a fixed position. The sliding graphic is not located at afixed position, but the sliding graphic is always displayed as a graphicindicating the direction. In other words, the five types of displays ofP171, P172, P173, P174, and P175 in FIG. 17 are not a single commondisplay, but the combination of the name and the methodology of thedestination facility is constantly displayed as a display elementindicating the intention of the conveyance content. A facility user whohas seen FIG. 17 can obtain information on two directions, that is, togo straight ahead and then turn left.

The lighting control device 140 repeatedly blinks the displays of P171to P175. At this time, the display element indicating the intention ofthe conveyance content is included in all of the displays of P171 toP175. Therefore, even when the displays of P171 to P175 are sequentiallyswitched, a facility user can constantly visually recognize the displayelement indicating the intention of the conveyance content at all times.

Through repeated display of a loop-display of an arrow graphicindicating the movement direction so that one or more arrow graphics areconstantly displayed, it is possible to accurately convey a movementpath including a plurality of directions.

As a result, the lighting control device 140 can execute a visible-lightanimation display that enables a facility user to quickly understand theconveyance content without a risk of the display element indicating theintention of the conveyance content being overlooked.

In all of the visible-light animation displays illustrated in FIG. 15 toFIG. 17, a display enabling identification of the destination facilityand a display indicating the direction are constantly displayed suchthat there is no time during which those displays are not displayed. Asa result, when information urging the movement direction toward thedestination facility is displayed, a visible-light animation displaythat enables a user to quickly understand the display content without arisk of the information urging the movement direction being overlookedcan be implemented.

The flowchart of the series of operations by the lighting control device140 in the third embodiment is the substantially the same as theflowchart of FIG. 14 described in the second embodiment, and hence adescription thereof is omitted here.

As described above, in the third embodiment, a visible-light animationcan be provided to a facility user who is to receive information onguidance of a movement path, under a state in which the display elementindicating the intention of the conveyance content is constantlydisplayed. As a result, the facility user quickly moves to thedestination facility in accordance with the display content.

In particular, in the third embodiment, the visible-light animation canbe displayed in such a way that the facility user can quickly understanda movement path combining a plurality of directions by constantlydisplaying a graphic indicating the direction while moving the graphic.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

40 lighting control device (irradiation control device), 41 integrateddiscrimination ECU (acquisition unit), 43 light control ECU, 43 alighting discrimination unit (discrimination unit), 43 b lighting DB(database), 43 c lighting instruction unit (irradiation control unit),50 light device (irradiation unit), 140 lighting control device(irradiation control device), 141 integrated discrimination MPU(acquisition unit), 143 light control MPU, 143 a lighting discriminationunit (discrimination unit), 143 b lighting DB (database), 143 c lightinginstruction unit (irradiation control unit), 150 light device(irradiation unit)

1-11. (canceled)
 12. An irradiation control device, which is configuredto control irradiation of light indicating a predetermined intention toa surrounding person, the irradiation control device comprising anirradiation controller configured to perform control to irradiate afirst irradiation element, and a second irradiation element, which isirradiated when the first irradiation element is extinguished, andindicates an intention of the irradiation, wherein the irradiationcontroller is configured to perform control such that the firstirradiation element is again irradiated when the second irradiationelement is extinguished.
 13. The irradiation control device according toclaim 12, further comprising: an acquirer configured to acquirediscrimination information for performing irradiation control; and adiscriminator configured to discriminate irradiation content based onthe discrimination information acquired by the acquirer, wherein theirradiation controller is configured to control irradiation of light byspecifying the first irradiation element and the second irradiationelement in accordance with the irradiation content discriminated by thediscriminator.
 14. The irradiation control device according to claim 13,wherein the irradiation control device is mounted to a vehicle, whereinthe irradiation control device further comprises a database storinginformation on irradiation content, wherein the acquirer is configuredto acquire information on an operation or a state of the vehicle as thediscrimination information, and wherein the discriminator is configuredto discriminate the irradiation content by referring to the informationon the irradiation content stored in the database based on thediscrimination information acquired by the acquirer.
 15. The irradiationcontrol device according to claim 13, wherein the irradiation controldevice is mounted to a facility to be used by a user, wherein theirradiation control device further comprises a database storinginformation on irradiation content, wherein the acquirer is configuredto acquire, as the discrimination information, peripheral information onmovement of a user from a state detection sensor arranged in thefacility, and wherein the discriminator is configured to discriminatethe irradiation content by referring to the information on theirradiation content stored in the database based on the discriminationinformation acquired by the acquirer.
 16. The irradiation control deviceaccording to claim 13, wherein the discriminator is configured todetermine, based on the discrimination information, a peripheralenvironmental state under which light indicating the predeterminedintention to a surrounding person is to be irradiated, and an attributeof a user who views the irradiated light, and wherein the irradiationcontroller is configured to control irradiation by adjusting at leastone of a display timing, a display brightness, a display color, adisplay position, and a display size, which are adjustable elements ofthe first irradiation element and the second irradiation element, basedon the peripheral environmental state and the attribute determined bythe discriminator.
 17. The irradiation control device according to claim14, wherein the discriminator is configured to determine, based on thediscrimination information, a peripheral environmental state under whichlight indicating the predetermined intention to a surrounding person isto be irradiated, and an attribute of a user who views the irradiatedlight, and wherein the irradiation controller is configured to controlirradiation by adjusting at least one of a display timing, a displaybrightness, a display color, a display position, and a display size,which are adjustable elements of the first irradiation element and thesecond irradiation element, based on the peripheral environmental stateand the attribute determined by the discriminator.
 18. The irradiationcontrol device according to claim 15, wherein the discriminator isconfigured to determine, based on the discrimination information, aperipheral environmental state under which light indicating thepredetermined intention to a surrounding person is to be irradiated, andan attribute of a user who views the irradiated light, and wherein theirradiation controller is configured to control irradiation by adjustingat least one of a display timing, a display brightness, a display color,a display position, and a display size, which are adjustable elements ofthe first irradiation element and the second irradiation element, basedon the peripheral environmental state and the attribute determined bythe discriminator.
 19. The irradiation control device according to claim12, further comprising an irradiator configured to irradiate light basedon control of the irradiation controller.
 20. The irradiation controldevice according to claim 12, wherein the irradiation controller isconfigured to control irradiation such that the second irradiationelement is constantly irradiated.
 21. The irradiation control deviceaccording to claim 12, wherein the first irradiation element includes aplurality of elements, and wherein the irradiation controller isconfigured to control irradiation such that the plurality of irradiationelements increase by one, and to control irradiation such that the firstirradiation element is extinguished after all of the plurality ofirradiation elements are irradiated.
 22. The irradiation control deviceaccording to claim 12, wherein the first irradiation element includes anirradiation element indicating a direction, and wherein the irradiationcontroller is configured to slide the first irradiation element in adirection indicating the direction.
 23. An irradiation control device,which is configured to control irradiation of light indicating apredetermined intention to a surrounding person, the irradiation controldevice comprising an irradiation controller configured to performcontrol to irradiate a first irradiation element, and a secondirradiation element, which is irradiated when the first irradiationelement is extinguished, and indicates an intention of the irradiation,the irradiation control device further comprising: an acquirerconfigured to acquire discrimination information for performingirradiation control; a discriminator configured to discriminateirradiation content based on the discrimination information acquired bythe acquirer; and a database storing information on irradiation content,wherein the irradiation controller is configured to control irradiationof light by specifying the first irradiation element and the secondirradiation element in accordance with the irradiation contentdiscriminated by the discriminator, wherein the irradiation controldevice is mounted to a facility to be used by a user, wherein theacquirer is configured to acquire, as the discrimination information,peripheral information on movement of a user from a state detectionsensor arranged in the facility, and wherein the discriminator isconfigured to discriminate the irradiation content by referring to theinformation on the irradiation content stored in the database based onthe discrimination information acquired by the acquirer.
 24. Theirradiation control device according to claim 23, wherein thediscriminator is configured to determine, based on the discriminationinformation, a peripheral environmental state under which lightindicating the predetermined intention to a surrounding person is to beirradiated, and an attribute of a user who views the irradiated light,and wherein the irradiation controller is configured to controlirradiation by adjusting at least one of a display timing, a displaybrightness, a display color, a display position, and a display size,which are adjustable elements of the first irradiation element and thesecond irradiation element, based on the peripheral environmental stateand the attribute determined by the discriminator.
 25. The irradiationcontrol device according to claim 23, further comprising an irradiatorconfigured to irradiate light based on control of the irradiationcontroller.
 26. The irradiation control device according to claim 23,wherein the irradiation controller is configured to control irradiationsuch that the second irradiation element is constantly irradiated. 27.The irradiation control device according to claim 23, wherein the firstirradiation element includes a plurality of elements, and wherein theirradiation controller is configured to control irradiation such thatthe plurality of irradiation elements increase by one, and to controlirradiation such that the first irradiation element is extinguishedafter all of the plurality of irradiation elements are irradiated. 28.The irradiation control device according to claim 23, wherein the firstirradiation element includes an irradiation element indicating adirection, and wherein the irradiation controller is configured to slidethe first irradiation element in a direction indicating the direction.29. An irradiation method for irradiating light indicating apredetermined intention to a surrounding person, the irradiation methodcomprising: irradiating a first irradiation element; and irradiating asecond irradiation element, which is irradiated when the firstirradiation element is extinguished, and indicates an intention of theirradiation, the irradiation method comprising irradiating the firstirradiation element again when the second irradiation element isextinguished.
 30. An irradiation method for irradiating light indicatinga predetermined intention to a surrounding person, the irradiationmethod comprising: irradiating a first irradiation element; andirradiating a second irradiation element, which is irradiated when thefirst irradiation element is extinguished, and indicates an intention ofthe irradiation, the irradiation control method further comprising: toacquire discrimination information for performing irradiation control;to discriminate irradiation content based on the acquired discriminationinformation; and to control irradiation of light by specifying the firstirradiation element and the second irradiation element in accordancewith the irradiation content discriminated by the discriminator, toacquire, as the discrimination information, peripheral information onmovement of a user from a state detection sensor arranged in thefacility, and to discriminate the irradiation content by referring tothe information on the irradiation content stored in a database based onthe acquired discrimination information.